Trump vows to work with American farmers to avoid deporting migrant workers essential to agricultural sector

04/18/2025 / By Laura Harris

President Donald Trump has vowed to collaborate with American farmers to prevent the deportation of migrant workers essential to the agricultural sector, addressing concerns over labor shortages and rising costs.
Georgia Senator (and farmer) Sam Watson warns that mass deportations could devastate U.S. agriculture, where migrant labor is critical. He highlights struggles with soaring labor costs and competition from lower-wage Mexican producers.
Despite higher wages, U.S. farmers face economic challenges competing with Mexican imports, as labor rates make domestic produce more expensive.
During a cabinet meeting, Trump announced plans to allow essential migrant workers to stay temporarily if farmers strongly recommend them, balancing enforcement with industry needs.
Trump signaled an expedited legal pathway for deported migrants who comply with immigration procedures, emphasizing cooperation with agriculture, hospitality and other labor-dependent industries.

President Donald Trump has vowed that he would collaborate with American farmers to avoid deporting essential migrant workers crucial to the agricultural industry amid growing concerns of labor shortages and rising costs.

According to Georgia Senator Sam Watson, a Republican vegetable farmer, mass deportation could devastate the agriculture sector, where migrant labor remains indispensable.

“Farmers are in trouble right now in the United States. We’re struggling,” said Watson, who owns and operates a vegetable farm in Georgia. “I use a lot of migrant labor, our labor rates are going through the roof.” (Related: U.S. farm industry groups urge Trump to exempt illegal immigrant agricultural workers from mass deportation orders.)

Watson also noted that despite being paid higher wages, U.S. farmers still struggle to compete with lower-cost producers in Mexico. “I don’t mind paying high labor rates, but the problem is my competition is Mexico and guess what they’re paying in Mexico. They’re not paying the same thing I’m having to pay in Georgia and in the United States, but guess where the produce is cheaper?”

In line with this, Trump confirmed during a cabinet meeting on April 10 that he would collaborate with American farmers to avoid deporting essential migrant workers crucial to the agricultural industry.

“We’re also gonna work with farmers that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers and then come back and go through a process, a legal process,” Trump said.

The president also indicated plans to expedite the return of deported migrants who comply with immigration procedures, emphasizing cooperation with agricultural businesses, hotels and other industries reliant on foreign labor. “If they go out in a nice way and go back to their country, we’re going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally.”

Trump’s second admin will focus on deporting criminals and immigrants with final deportation orders

According to the New York Times, the U.S. has experienced record immigration levels in recent years, with net migration, legal and illegal, averaging 2.4 million annually from 2021 to 2023. The foreign-born population reached 15.2 percent in 2023, the highest share ever recorded.

In line with this, Trump pledged to reverse the historic migration surge seen under former President Joe Biden during his 2024 presidential campaign. At that time, he vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

However, data from the New American Economy Research Fund underscores the economic reliance of the U.S. agricultural industry on undocumented workers. In fact, an estimated 27.3 percent (over 800,000) of U.S. agricultural laborers were unauthorized immigrants in 2019, with nearly half originating from outside the country.

Advocates for immigration reform argue that a balanced approach, one protecting both border security and vital labor markets, is essential to sustain food production and economic stability.

Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, and other Republican immigration hardliners even noted earlier that the second Trump administration will focus on deporting criminals and people with final deportation orders.

Head over to Trump.news for more stories about mass deportations of illegals under the second Trump administration.

Watch new border czar Tom Homan telling Veronika Kyrylenko of The New American magazine that the U.S. border is broken by design.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.